Overview of the work of the Community Outreach Transit Team (COTT).
The Community Outreach Transit Team (COTT) is a partnership between the City of Edmonton and the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society.
Our goal is to build relationships and connect individuals within the transit system to community support and resources to increase safety and reduce harm.
The team jointly helps Edmontonians who require more specialized support on transit. Transit Peace Officers and Bent Arrow outreach workers provide compassionate support for individuals to address concerns such as:
- Housing
- Mental health
- Substance use
- Financial assistance
Days and Hours of Service
The Community Outreach Transit Teams operate 7 days a week from 6am-2am. Their hours are based on when we have historically seen the most need for these support services.
Currently, there are 7 teams who work alternate shifts. Certain locations may be visited more frequently based on needs.
Additional Resources
If you are in need of services, help is a phone call away 24/7.
If you see a person in need of services on transit, please call or text Transit Watch at 780-442-4900.
| Bent Arrow New In Town Program On-Call | 780-232-2782 |
| Support and Resources | 211 |
| Distress Line | 780-482-HELP (4357) |
| Addiction and Mental Health programs | 780-424-2424 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bent Arrow outreach workers are trained to provide a person-centred and trauma-informed response to social challenges. Together, Transit Peace Officers and Bent Arrow outreach workers can deliver a coordinated response through a compassionate, trauma-informed, and human-centred lens.
The City of Calgary has had a similar program for a few years; we regularly talk with our colleagues in other cities and reached out to them to learn more about their program and results. We wanted to leverage best practices and felt this program could be piloted in Edmonton.
For More Information
311 Contact Centre
If you are calling from outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311
| Telephone | 311 |
|---|---|
| TTY | 711 |
| Website | https://311.edmonton.ca |